English Lesson on Mahmoud Abbas

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THE LESSON ON MAHMOUD ABBAS

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Mahmoud Abbas. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Mahmoud Abbas was elected as President of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005. He is a leading politician in the Fatah movement. He was also the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Abbas has spent much of his career negotiating with Israel to secure a Palestinian homeland. He is viewed by the West as a moderate who can help bring peace to the region.

Abbas was born in 1935 in Palestine. His family became refugees during the 1948 war with Israel and settled in Syria. He graduated from the University of Damascus and then went to study law in Egypt. He then moved to Moscow to do his Ph.D. In his thesis, he described the Nazi Holocaust as being nothing but a “fantastic lie”.

In the 1950s, Abbas was involved in underground Palestinian politics. He helped recruit for the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also co-founded Fatah in 1957. Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, he remained a key figure in Palestinian politics. His was a lone voice that argued for the recognition of Israel. He had secret meetings with Israeli groups from the 1970s.

At the 1993 peace accords with Israel, Abbas signed on behalf of the PLO. He was seen by Israel and the USA as someone they could work with. He won the 2005 presidential election and immediately called for an end to violence against Israel. He has worked tirelessly to bring about Palestinian statehood. He also said "There is absolutely no substitution for dialogue."

247 words

Flesch Kinkaid 10.2

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

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SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

leading

a.

establish

2

secure

b.

displaced people

3.

region

c.

put down roots

4.

refugees

d.

amazing

5.

settled

e.

top

6.

fantastic

f.

area


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

underground

g.

replacement

8.

key

h.

treaty

9.

recognition

i.

enthusiastically

10.

accord

j.

undercover

11

tirelessly

k

acceptance

12

substitution

l

important

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

a leading politician

a.

Palestinian politics

2

negotiating

b.

a moderate

3.

viewed by the West as

c.

to violence

4.

settled

d.

figure

5.

nothing but a

e.

with Israel

6.

underground

f.

“fantastic lie”

7.

a key

g.

for dialogue

8.

argued for the recognition

h.

in the Fatah movement

9.

called for an end

i.

of Israel

10.

no substitution

j.

in Syria

LISTENING GAP FILL

Mahmoud Abbas _____________ President of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005. He is a leading _____________ Fatah movement. He was also the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Abbas has spent _____________ career negotiating with Israel to secure a Palestinian homeland. He is viewed by the West as a moderate who can _____________ to the region.

Abbas was born in 1935 in Palestine. His family _____________ during the 1948 war with Israel _____________ Syria. He graduated from the University of Damascus and then went to study law in Egypt. He then moved to Moscow _________________. In his thesis, he described the Nazi Holocaust as being _____________ “fantastic lie”.

In the 1950s, Abbas _____________  underground Palestinian politics. He helped recruit for the Palestine Liberation Organization. ______________ Fatah in 1957. Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, he remained _____________ in Palestinian politics. His was _____________ that argued for the recognition of Israel. He had secret meetings with Israeli groups from the 1970s.

At the 1993 ________________ Israel, Abbas signed on behalf of the PLO. He _____________ Israel and the USA as someone they could work with. He won the 2005 presidential election and immediately called _____________ violence against Israel. He has worked tirelessly _____________ Palestinian statehood. He also said "There is absolutely no substitution for dialogue."

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Mahmoud Abbas was elected / election as President of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005. He is a leader / leading politician in the Fatah movement. He was also the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Abbas has spent much / many of his career negotiating with Israel to secure a Palestinian homeland. He is viewed / viewer by the West as a moderate who can help bring peace to the region.

Abbas was born / birth in 1935 in Palestine. His family became refugees / refuges during the 1948 war with Israel and settled in Syria. He graduated from the University of Damascus and then went to study lawyer / law in Egypt. He then moved to Moscow to do his Ph.D. In his thesis, he described the Nazi Holocaust as being something / nothing but a “fantastic lie”.

In the 1950s, Abbas was involved in overground / underground Palestinian politics. He helped recruit / recruited for the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also co-founded Fatah in 1957. Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, he remained a key / padlock figure in Palestinian politics. His was a lone / loner voice that argued for the recognition of Israel. He had secret meetings with Israeli groups from the 1970s.

At the 1993 peace record / accords with Israel, Abbas signed on half / behalf of the PLO. He was seen by Israel and the USA as someone they could work with. He won the 2005 presidential election and immediately called for an end to violent / violence against Israel. He has worked tirelessly to bring about Palestinian statehood. He also said "There is absolutely no substitution for monologue / dialogue."

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
 

1.

He is a nagelid politician

2.

spent much of his aeercr negotiating with Israel

3.

reusec a Palestinian homeland

4.

bring peace to the niogre


Paragraph 2
 

5.

His family became seueegfr

6.

stedlte in Syria

7.

the Nazi Haslotuco

8.

a tacnsiaft lie


Paragraph 3
 

9.

oneildvv in underground Palestinian politics

10.

He helped rtcueri for the Palestine Liberation Organization

11.

he remained a key riugfe

12.

He had creste meetings


Paragraph 4
 

13.

1993 peace caodrc

14.

oeosmne they could work with

15.

He has worked yesitelsrl

16.

no substitution for iogaeudl

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

Moscow to do his Ph.D. In his thesis, he described the Nazi Holocaust as being nothing but a “fantastic lie”.

(    )

 

West as a moderate who can help bring peace to the region.

(    )

 

statehood. He also said "There is absolutely no substitution for dialogue."

(    )

 

end to violence against Israel. He has worked tirelessly to bring about Palestinian

(    )

 

At the 1993 peace accords with Israel, Abbas signed on behalf of the PLO. He was seen by Israel and the

(    )

 

the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also co-founded Fatah in 1957. Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, he remained a

(    )

 

Israel. He had secret meetings with Israeli groups from the 1970s.

(    )

 

politician in the Fatah movement. He was also the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Abbas has spent much

(    )

 

of his career negotiating with Israel to secure a Palestinian homeland. He is viewed by the

(    )

 

In the 1950s, Abbas was involved in underground Palestinian politics. He helped recruit for

(    )

 

Abbas was born in 1935 in Palestine. His family became refugees during the 1948 war with Israel and settled

(    )

 

USA as someone they could work with. He won the 2005 presidential election and immediately called for an

( 1 )

 

Mahmoud Abbas was elected as President of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005 He is a leading

(    )

 

key figure in Palestinian politics. His was a lone voice that argued  for the recognition of

(    )

 

in Syria. He graduated from the University of Damascus and then went to study law in Egypt. He then moved to

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

leading    movement    politician    He    in    is    the    a    Fatah

2.

his    of    much    spent    has    Abbas    negotiating    career

3.

the    He    West    is    as    viewed    a    by    moderate

4.

1948    the    during    refugees    became    family    His    war

5.

fantastic    but    lie    a    nothing

6.

underground    politics    was    in    Palestinian    Abbas    involved

7.

he    politics    Palestinian    in    figure    key    a    remained

8.

secret    with    groups    had    meetings    Israeli    He

9.

immediately    to    called    violence    for    against    an    Israel    end

10.

no    for    There    absolutely    substitution    dialogue    is

MAHMOUD ABBAS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

What do you know about Mahmoud Abbas?

2.

Would you like to meet Mahmoud Abbas?

3.

What would you like to know about Mahmoud Abbas and why?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

What did you learn from this text about Mahmoud Abbas?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Mahmoud Abbas?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

MAHMOUD ABBAS SURVEY

Write five questions about Mahmoud Abbas in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Mahmoud Abbas for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Mahmoud Abbas. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAHMOUD ABBAS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Mahmoud Abbas. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Mahmoud Abbas. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Mahmoud Abbas. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Mahmoud Abbas expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

leading

a.

top

2

secure

b.

establish

3.

region

c.

area

4.

refugees

d.

displaced people

5.

settled

e.

put down roots

6.

fantastic

f.

amazing


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

underground

g.

undercover

8.

key

h.

important

9.

recognition

i.

acceptance

10.

accord

j.

treaty

11

tirelessly

k

enthusiastically

12

substitution

l

replacement

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

a leading politician

a.

in the Fatah movement

2

negotiating

b.

with Israel

3.

viewed by the West as

c.

a moderate

4.

settled

d.

in Syria

5.

nothing but a

e.

“fantastic lie”

6.

underground

f.

Palestinian politics

7.

a key

g.

figure

8.

argued for the recognition

h.

of Israel

9.

called for an end

i.

to violence

10.

no substitution

j.

for dialogue

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

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